Kells won the final west Cumbrian derby of the season in National Conference Premier when they beat Wath Brow Hornets 10-7.

It also meant Kells were winners of the unofficial Cumbria NCL League, contested by them, Egremont and Wath Brow.

This final derby was only settled in the last minute when substitute Grant McLaughlin went in for an unconverted try, which won it for Kells.

But that narrow win, coupled to Wigan St. Patrick’s 34-12 defeat at Siddal, wasn’t enough to put Kells into the top six and the end-of-season play-offs.

They missed out by a points differential of nine.

Wath Brow, however, will go forward in fifth place, which means a trip to Rochdale Mayfield this Saturday in the Elimination semi-final.

They will consider themselves mugged at Kells as they were never behind until the last minute when McLaughlin raced over.

The Hornets had led 6-0 at the break, breaking the deadlock after a very tightly contested affair on 38 minutes when prop Richard Huby went over and Cole Walker Taylor added the conversion.

Kells reduced the arrears on 49 minutes with an unconverted try from Martin O’Neill and they were level by the hour after Ross Gainford put over a penalty.

Wath Brow regained the lead six minutes from the end with a drop goal by Walker-Taylor and looked to be heading for the points when McLaughlin snatched a dramatic win for Kells.

Egremont Rangers were able to travel for their final game at Hull Dockers secure in the knowledge they will be playing Conference Premier rugby again next season.

Despite having only 16 men for the trip, the Cumbrians performed well and brought back a point from a 27-27 draw.

A drop goal for each side in the last three minutes made sure the points were shared with Matty Bewsher securing the draw for Egremont with his last-gasp effort.

Egremont made a flying start with two tries in the first ten minutes to lead 10-0, although by half-time, the lead had been reduced to 14-8.

Entre James Newton and second row forward Kieran Glenn scored the early tries, with Bewsher converting one.

Then, before the break, Glenn went in for his second touchdown.

Hull Dockers’ best player, second rower Jon Eccles and stand-off Andy Kay scored their first-half tries.

Suddenly, Dockers found themselves clear in the second half as Reece Lazenby, Chris Hathaway and Kyle Larvin all crossed for tries, which were converted by Kay.

But with loose-forward Matty Henson directing Egremont around the park the visitors came back to parity with Glenn completing his hat-trick and scrum-half Joe Bolt also going over. Bewsher converted both for 26-26 .

Lazenby thought he’d won it for the Dockers with a late drop goal, but even later Bewsher popped one over to clinch the draw.